$25 grocery challenge - Week 33/2024

How I'm managing on a tight budget #broke #frugallife #dumpsterdiving #livingonabudget #spendless #diabetes #eatinghealthy #groceriesonabudget #grocerychallenge #groceryhaul2024 #groceryshopping #groceryvlog #extremebudget #frugallivingtips #savingschallenge2024 #budgeting #frugalvideos
Baba Ganoush:
www.themediter...
Ratatouille:
www.howtocook....

[@hildapeterson7124]

Thank you for sharing. I always enjoy and find your channel inspiring.

[@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj]

@@hildapeterson7124 Thanks so much!

[@lisacalandra2474]

You do a great job of overhead filming when you make your meals. Food looks delicious.

[@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj]

@@lisacalandra2474 Thanks! Took me a while to figure out how to do it.

[@DeterminedDIYer]

What a nice friend. That would have cost so much at the grocery store. :) Great job!

[@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj]

@@DeterminedDIYer Thanks! My friend is amazing. - she turned her backyard into a small farm, with chickens, fruit bushes, garlic and onions, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, squash, potatoes eggplants, pumpkins, cucumbers and more. I feel like I am grocery shopping in her back yard when I visit.

[@MelroseLifeataGlance]

I found you yesterday, August 19th. I went to the beginning and watched every video. I love your content, but I do have a couple of questions/suggestions/ tips. Do you only drink coffee & water? Why do you subtract from the next week when you go over, but don't add to the next week when you're under? When you are under budget for your weekly shopping, are you using the leftover to buy for your backup stock? I noticed in some videos that when you used lentils & and quinoa, you said you needed to add protein, but they are both vegan proteins. I know every state/county/city is different, but most food banks only ask for state issued ID/DL & only have a zip code requirement. I don't qualify for assistance, but I do use food banks I'm in Texas, and I've lived in several different counties in Texas. I have no problem with dumpster diving (I've done it). I'm glad to see you take precautions & that the stores aren't opening packages before tossing. I've worked at several grocery stores & we were required to open packages or damage food, so it wasn't usable if someone took it out of the dumpster. If you were caught not doing it, you could be fired. It always made me so mad. Do you ever shop at outlet/discount/dollar stores? I was surprised that outlet stores like Big Lots & Ross Dress for Less sometimes have food items. I've found several specialty foods(I have food allergies) & regular food items at both. I've even found name brand food items at dollar stores. Will you ever do a video showing us your backup pantry/freezer? Sorry for such a long comment, but I wanted to make sure my questions weren't answered in another video since I was 33 weeks late. Thank you for sharing.

[@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj]

@@MelroseLifeataGlance Hi! Wow - I'll do my best to answer your questions. I carry over any overbudget but not underbudget as a way to stay on track with my spending, and any money leftover goes to paying down debt. I don't qualify for assistance, and there aren't many "free" food pantries 8n my immediate area - and there are many who need those places. I really don't - I get all sorts of freebies from friends, family, and an anonymous grocery gift card donor. I drink mostly water, and coffee in the morning - I've been using Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks gift cards from students to buy my coffee this year, though I will have to buy some soon. Occasionally I have alcohol, but don't include it in my grocery budget because alcohol is not sold in grocery stores in my state. I've been dumpster diving for years and like saving things from going to waste or landfill. As a type 2 diabetic I need to be mindful of the kind and amount of carbs I eat, and adding extra protein even to dishes that have protein helps me better regulate my blood sugar. I do visit outlets once in a while. There is a "crash and dent" store by my sister (in another state) that I always go to when I visit her, and buy all sorts of goodies. I plan to do a video haul of that before the end of the year. I hope I answered most of your questions. Feel free to ask more, and thanks for watching!

[@MelroseLifeataGlance]

@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj thank you for answering. Again, I'm sorry it was so much. I didn't want to ask in 1 video & then get the answer in the next, which did happen a few times. Great idea using it to pay down debt. I never thought of that. My ex-wife was type 2 diabetic & vegan. That's how I knew quinoa was protein a lot of people don't know that.

[@kathryndockrey1477]

Great video. At the beginning, did you do an inventory of everything you had in stock? I'm curious if you are finding you are depleting your stock, or increasing it? ( I know the composition of your stock will change over time)

[@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj]

@@kathryndockrey1477 Hi! Yes, I kind of keep a running inventory. If I'm running low, I start looking for sales on that item.

[@simplecountryliving7555]

Great haul with a lot of good meat.

[@Groceryvlog2024-uz9fj]

@@simplecountryliving7555 Thanks! I'm looking forward to making something with the pork soon.